5 Powerful Prayers from Billy Graham That Still Uplift Us Today

Carrie Dedrick

Rev. Billy Graham dedicated his life to proclaiming the gospel. Through hundreds of crusades around the world, millions of people were led to Christ. As we recognize the passing of such a beloved and faithful man, we remember the wisdom he shared throughout seven decades of ministry.

Some of the following prayers were spoken many decades ago, but the words ring true as ever. May we remember Graham’s message of hope in Jesus Christ as we revisit his powerful prayers.

1. A Prayer That We Will Accept the Savior

Rev. Billy Graham spoke these words in New York in 1957, reminding us how deeply we are loved by our Creator. Praise God that Graham shared this message of love with so many around the world.

Our Father and our God, we pray that… we all might be conscious that Thine eye is upon us. If God can see the sparrow fall, if He has the hairs of our head numbered, we know that He watches us, that He loves us, that He cares for us, and we’re told in Thy Word that He cares for us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to the cross to die that we might find forgiveness of our sins. We pray… that Thy Holy Spirit will draw all men unto the Savior, for we ask it in His Name. Amen.

2. A Prayer to Make Ourselves Right with God

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Graham shared the following prayer in Sacramento, California during one of his infamous crusades. This is a beautiful reminder that though we may stray from the Lord at times in our lives, He will always welcome us back with open arms.

… Our Father and our God, we pray that in this period of crisis in our world that the Holy Spirit will use it to remind us of our need of Thee and our relationship with Thee and we pray that tonight if our relationship is not right that we’ll make it right through Jesus Christ our Lord who came to die on the cross because He loved us. For we ask it in His Name. Amen.

3. A Prayer That God's Will May be Done in Our Nation

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This prayer was spoken at the 1997 inauguration of President Clinton. At a time when society has seemed to away from Christianity, these words remind us that God is still in control of our nation, and greater world.

Lord… remind us today that You have shown us what is good in what You require of us; to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. We ask that as a people, we may humble ourselves before You and seek Your will for our lives and for this great nation. Help us in our nation to work as never before to strengthen our families and to give our children hope and a moral foundation for the future. So may our desire be to serve You, and in so doing, serve one another. This we pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

4. A Prayer for the New Year

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Rev. Billy Graham wrote this powerful prayer for The Saturday Evening Post in 2008. The prayer can be read in full here. Graham’s wise words here tell us that God holds our future. We are called to place our lives in His hands with trust and faith.

Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future… We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year… And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come. Amen.

5. Billy Graham's Final Public Prayer for the World

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This final prayer was shared in celebration of Graham’s 99th birthday on Nov. 7, 2017. Rev. Billy Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, released a video featuring these wise words from his father. The following is a prayer that the world will experience a spiritual awakening, and dedicate their lives to God:

I've been praying that we might have a spiritual awakening. I think that becomes possible only as individuals surrender their lives afresh and anew to Christ.

First, we must do everything we can to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Live a life in which we love one another, we help one another, and we live according to His word as Jesus lived.

The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us live that new lifestyle. It’s one of love, gentleness, and patience and all of these things that are the fruits of the Spirit.

You read his Word every day… the Bible. I know it's very difficult but you need to start somewhere and I suggest you start with the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament and in the Old Testament start with the first verse -- “In the Beginning, God.”

Go to your knees and pray until you and God have become intimate friends. I cannot describe to you the joy and the peace he gives as a result of the daily routine that you have.